For best results, it is best to plant new sunflower seeds each spring. With the being said, you can harvest the seeds from this year’s flowers to grow next year, to eat as a snack, or leave them out for the birds and critters to enjoy.
Whatever you decide to do, you want the flowers to dry—on or off the stem—until the back of the head turns brown, the foliage yellows, the petals die, and the seeds look plump and somewhat loose. If you don’t plan on saving the seeds for yourself or your garden visitors, you can cut them down after the blooms have faded.
There is a chance a seed or two may fall to the ground at the end of the season and take next spring, but you’re better off getting a new packet of seeds in the spring and planting them.
Hi Gloria. Thanks for your question!
For best results, it is best to plant new sunflower seeds each spring. With the being said, you can harvest the seeds from this year’s flowers to grow next year, to eat as a snack, or leave them out for the birds and critters to enjoy.
Whatever you decide to do, you want the flowers to dry—on or off the stem—until the back of the head turns brown, the foliage yellows, the petals die, and the seeds look plump and somewhat loose. If you don’t plan on saving the seeds for yourself or your garden visitors, you can cut them down after the blooms have faded.
There is a chance a seed or two may fall to the ground at the end of the season and take next spring, but you’re better off getting a new packet of seeds in the spring and planting them.